Sertraline hydrochloride form II and methods for the preparation thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to Form II of sertraline hydrochloride and novel methods for its preparation. According to the present invention, sertraline hydrochloride Form II may be produced directly form sertraline base or sertraline mandelate. It may also be produced from sertraline hydrochloride solvate and hydrate forms, and crystallized from new solvent systems. Pharmaceutical compositions containing sertraline hydrochloride Form II and methods of treatment using such pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/198,546,filed on Jul. 18, 2002; which is a divisional of application Ser. No.09/575,634, filed on May 22, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,495,721; andclaims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/182,159, filedFeb. 14, 2000; and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.09/448,985, filed Nov. 24, 1999, which claims the benefit of provisionalapplication No. 60/147,888, filed Aug. 9, 1999. The contents of each ofthese applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel crystalline form of sertralinehydrochloride, and reproducible methods for its preparation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sertraline hydrochloride, (1S-cis)-4-(3,4dichlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-N-methyl-1-naphthalenaminehydrochloride, having the formula

is approved, under the trademark Zoloft®, by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration, for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsivedisorder and panic disorder.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,518 (“the '518 patent”) describes the preparation ofsertraline hydrochloride with a melting point of 243–245° C. by treatingan ethyl acetate/ether solution of the free base with gaseous hydrogenchloride. The solid state properties of the sertraline hydrochloride soproduced are not otherwise disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,083 describes the preparation of a form ofsertraline hydrochloride denominated polymorph “T1.”

According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,699 (“the '699 patent”), the sertralinehydrochloride produced by the method of the '518 patent has acrystalline form denominated “Form II.” The '699 patent discloses fourother polymorphs of sertraline hydrochloride designated Forms I, III,IV, and V, and characterizes them by single crystal x-ray analysis,powder x-ray diffraction, infra-red spectroscopy, and differentialscanning calorimetry. The '699 patent reports that Form II is producedby rapid crystallization of sertraline hydrochloride from an organicsolvent, including isopropyl alcohol, ethyl acetate or hexane, andgenerally describes methods for making sertraline hydrochloride FormsI–V. According to this patent, the preferential formation of Forms I, IIor IV in an acidic solution consisting of isopropyl alcohol, hexane,acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, glacial acetic acid or, preferably,ethyl acetate, depends on the rapidity of crystallization. The onlymethod described in this patent for making Forms II and IV is by therapid crystallization of sertraline hydrochloride from an organicsolvent such as those listed above.

The experimental procedure for the preparation of sertralinehydrochloride described in the '518 patent, was repeated in thelaboratory. According to the '699 patent, the '518 procedure producessertraline hydrochloride Form II. Four experiments were performedaccording to the description in the '518 patent. By following theprocedures described in the '699 patent for preparation of sertralinehydrochloride Form II, we were unable to obtain sertraline hydrochlorideForm II. Thus there remains a need for reproducible methods for thepreparation of sertraline hydrochloride Form II.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a process for making sertralinehydrochloride Form II comprising the steps of dissolving sertraline baseor sertraline mandelate in an organic solvent to form a solution; addinghydrogen chloride to the solution; heating the solution to a temperaturebetween about room temperature and about reflux for a time sufficient toinduce the formation of sertraline hydrochloride Form II; and isolatingsertraline hydrochloride Form II.

The present invention also relates to a process for making sertralinehydrochloride Form II comprising the steps of dissolving sertralinehydrochloride in dimethylformamide, cyclohexanol, acetone or a mixturethereof; heating the solution for a time sufficient to effecttransformation to sertraline hydrochloride Form II; and isolatingsertraline hydrochloride Form II.

The present invention further relates to a process for making sertralinehydrochloride Form II comprising the steps of granulating sertralinehydrochloride Form V in ethanol or methanol; and stirring the mixture ofsertraline hydrochloride Form V and ethanol or methanol for a timesufficient to induce transformation to sertraline hydrochloride Form II.

The present invention still further relates to a process for making amixture of sertraline hydrochloride Form II and Form V comprising thesteps of heating sertraline hydrochloride ethanolate Form VI at up to 1atmosphere pressure; and isolating a mixture of sertraline hydrochlorideForm II and Form V.

The present invention still further relates to a process for makingsertraline hydrochloride Form II comprising the steps of suspending awater or solvent adduct of sertraline hydrochloride in a solventselected from the group consisting of acetone, t-butyl-methyl ether,cyclohexane, n-butanol, and ethyl acetate such that a slurry is formed,for a time sufficient to effect transformation to sertralinehydrochloride Form II; and filtering the slurry to isolate sertralinehydrochloride Form II.

The present invention still further relates to sertraline hydrochlorideForm II, characterized by an x-ray powder diffraction pattern comprisingpeaks at about 5.5, 11.0, 12.5, 13.2, 14.7, 16.4, 17.3, 18.1, 19.1,20.5, 21.9, 22.8, 23.8, 24.5, 25.9, 27.5, and 28.0 degrees two theta;pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of depression comprisingsertraline hydrochloride Form II together with a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier, and a method for treating depression comprising thestep of administering to a subject in need of such treatment atherapeutically effective amount of the such a pharmaceuticalcomposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a characteristic x-ray powder diffraction spectrum ofsertraline hydrochloride prepared by the methods of U.S. Pat. No.4,536,518.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic x-ray powder diffraction spectrum ofsertraline hydrochloride prepared by the methods of U.S. Pat. No.5,248,699.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic x-ray powder diffraction spectrum ofsertraline hydrochloride Form II prepared by the methods of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Form II from Sertraline Base or Sertraline Mandelate

The present invention provides new processes for making sertralinehydrochloride Form II from sertraline base or sertraline mandelate.Sertraline base may be made by methods known in the art, including themethods of the '518 patent. Sertraline base is dissolved in a suitablesolvent. Suitable solvents include ethyl acetate, acetone,t-methyl-butyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, n-butanol, t-butanol,iso-butanol, hexane, and cyclohexane, and mixtures thereof The pH of thesertraline base solution is lowered by the addition of hydrogenchloride, which may result in a temperature increase. As used herein,“hydrogen chloride” includes both gaseous hydrogen chloride and aqueoushydrogen chloride (i.e. hydrochloric acid). Hydrogen chloride also maybe added as a solution with an organic solvent, such as a solution ofisopropyl alcohol and hydrogen chloride, n-butanol and hydrogenchloride, acetone and hydrogen chloride, or the like. The solution ofsertraline base or sertraline mandelate in the solvent is heated to atemperature between about room temperature and the reflux temperature ofthe solvent and maintained at that temperature for a period of timesufficient to effect the transformation to sertraline hydrochloride FormII. Preferably the solution is heated to a temperature between about 45°C. and the reflux temperature of the solvent. Most preferably thesolution is heated to at or about the reflux temperature of the solvent.Upon cooling of the mixture, for example to room temperature, sertralinehydrochloride Form II is isolated by filtration.

In a preferred variation of this method, the solution of sertraline baseor sertraline mandelate in a solvent is heated to the reflux temperatureof the solvent. The mixture is refluxed for a time sufficient to effectthe transformation to sertraline hydrochloride Form II. Preferably themixture is refluxed for about 1 to 4 hours.

Numerous experiments were performed in an attempt to repeat theprocedure described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,518 for preparing Form IIwherein sertraline base was dissolved in ethyl acetate, ether was addedand the solution was acidified with gaseous hydrogen chloride. Thematerial obtained after filtration and air drying was sertralinehydrochloride amorphous, not Form II as was expected. These experimentsare set forth in Examples 13–16 below.

The x-ray powder diffraction graphs for the products of each of theseexperiments are equivalent, containing peaks at 11.0, 12.0, 15.4, 16.2,22.4, 22.9 degree two-theta (See FIG. 1 for a representative example).FIG. 1 does not contain the typical peaks of sertraline hydrochlorideForm II, indicating an absence of sertraline hydrochloride Form II inthose samples. Thus, none of these experiments, which follow theprocedure described in the '518 patent for preparation of sertralinehydrochloride Form II, leads to sertraline hydrochloride Form II.

The '699 patent provides experimental procedures for preparation ofsertraline hydrochloride. The '699 patent does not provide experimentalprocedure for preparation of sertraline hydrochloride Form II, but it ismentioned that sertraline hydrochloride Form II may be prepared by“rapid crystallization” from the same solvents.

The procedure of the '699 patent was repeated in an attempt to preparesertraline hydrochloride form II from ethyl acetate. In a trial of themethods according to the '699 patent: An aqueous solution of sodiumhydroxide, 10%, was added to a slurry of sertraline mandelate crystals(44.6 g) in ethyl acetate (290 mL), until complete dissolution. Theorganic phase was separated and the aqueous phase was extracted withethyl acetate (280 mL) and combined with the organic phase. Theresulting organic solution was washed with water (5×100 mL) then withbrine (100 mL) and concentrated on a rotavapor to a volume of 356 mL.The concentrated solution was cooled to 58° C. and seeded withsertraline hydrochloride Form II. Concentrated hydrochloric acid (32%,8.1 mL) was added to this solution. The solution was then rapidly cooledto 30° C. over 5 minutes. A heavy gel was obtained and the stirring wascontinued overnight. The solid was filtrated, washed with ethyl acetateand dried at 50° C. The dried solid, sertraline hydrochloride, was notsertraline hydrochloride Form II, as shown by the x-ray diffractionpattern of FIG. 2.

By following the procedures described in the '699 patent for preparationof sertraline hydrochloride Form II, we did not obtain sertralinehydrochloride Form II. It is thus apparent that neither the '699 patentnor the '518 patent disclose a useful method for the preparation ofsertraline hydrochloride Form II.

Form II from Sertraline Hydrochloride

The present invention also provides new processes for making sertralinehydrochloride Form II from sertraline hydrochloride Form V bygranulation. In the conversion of sertraline hydrochloride Form V tosertraline hydrochloride Form II, sertraline hydrochloride Form V iscombined with a small amount of ethanol or methanol. The mixture ofsertraline hydrochloride Form V and ethanol or methanol is stirred forat least a period of at least a few hours, up to several days,preferably about two days, to induce the transformation of Form V toForm II. Sertraline hydrochloride Form II is then isolated byfiltration.

The present invention also provides new processes for making sertralinehydrochloride Form II by recrystallization of sertraline hydrochlorideunder heating conditions. In the conversion of sertraline hydrochlorideto sertraline hydrochloride Form II, sertraline hydrochloride isdissolved in a suitable organic solvent. The solution is then heated fora time sufficient to effect transformation to sertraline hydrochlorideForm II. Suitable solvents include dimethylformamide, cyclohexanol andacetone. Dimethylformamide is preferred. The suspension may be heated toa temperature between about 70° C. and 120° C. Sertraline hydrochlorideForm II is then isolated by filtration.

The present invention provides new processes for making sertralinehydrochloride Form II from sertraline hydrochloride Form VI, Form VII orForm VIII by reslurry in organic solvents at temperatures between 25–80°C., followed by drying. Sertraline hydrochloride Form VI may be madefollowing the methods of Examples 2 and 3. Sertraline hydrochloride FormVII is a water adduct and may be made by the methods of Examples 19 and20. Sertraline hydrochloride Form VIII may be made by the methods ofExamples 17 and 18. The methods provided in the present invention haveadvantages over the rapid recrystallization method of U.S. Pat. No.5,248,699. The method of the present invention does not require completedissolution of sertraline hydrochloride, controlling the rate of heatingor cooling of a sertraline solution, or controlling the rate ofcrystallization. The present method utilizes less solvent than themethod of the '699 patent, since the sertraline hydrochloride startingmaterial need not be completely dissolved.

In the conversion of sertraline hydrochloride Form VI, Form VII or FormVIII to sertraline hydrochloride Form II, according to the presentinvention, sertraline hydrochloride Form VI, Form VII water adduct, orForm VIII is combined with an aprotic organic solvent to form a slurry.Suitable solvents include n-butanol, acetone, t-butyl-methyl ether(MTBE), ethyl acetate and cyclohexane. The conversion may take place atroom temperature, but preferably the sertraline hydrochloride Form VI,Form VII water adduct, or VIII and solvent are heated to temperaturesbetween 25° C. and 80° C. About 1 to about 10 volumes of solvent arepreferred, based on the weight of the sertraline hydrochloride startingmaterial. See Examples 8 (3 volumes of solvent) and 9 (5 volumes ofsolvent) below. Smaller amounts of solvent will also effect thetransformation, albeit in some instances more slowly. The reaction iscarried out for a time sufficient to convert the Form VI, Form VII orForm VIII to Form II. We have not observed any further conversion ofForm II upon treatment under these conditions for times longer than theminimum time necessary to effect the transformation.

The present invention also provides new processes for making a mixtureof sertraline hydrochloride Form II and sertraline hydrochloride Form V.In this embodiment of the present invention, sertraline hydrochlorideForm VI is heated to induce the transformation of sertralinehydrochloride Form VI to a mixture of both sertraline hydrochloride FormII and sertraline hydrochloride Form V. In this embodiment of thepresent invention, the heating of sertraline hydrochloride Form VI maybe done under reduced pressure or atmospheric pressure.

Pharmaceutical Compositions Containing Sertraline HydrochloridePolymorphs

In accordance with the present invention, sertraline hydrochloride FormII as prepared by the new methods disclosed herein may be used inpharmaceutical compositions that are particularly useful for thetreatment of depression, obesity, chemical dependencies or addictions,premature ejaculation, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder.Such compositions comprise at least one of the new crystalline forms ofsertraline hydrochloride with pharmaceutically acceptable carriersand/or excipients known to one of skill in the art.

For example, these compositions may be prepared as medicaments to beadministered orally, parenterally, rectally, transdermally, bucally, ornasally. Suitable forms for oral administration include tablets,compressed or coated pills, dragees, sachets, hard or gelatin capsules,sub-lingual tablets, syrups and suspensions. Suitable forms ofparenteral administration include an aqueous or non-aqueous solution oremulsion, while for rectal administration suitable forms foradministration include suppositories with hydrophilic or hydrophobicvehicle. For topical administration the invention provides suitabletransdermal delivery systems known in the art, and for nasal deliverythere are provided suitable aerosol delivery systems known in the art.

Suitable non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/orexcipients will be apparent to those skilled in the art ofpharmaceutical formulation, and are discussed in detail in the tetentitled Remington's Pharmaceutical Science, 17^(th) edition (1985), thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Obviously, thechoice of suitable carriers will depend on the exact nature of theparticular dosage form, e.g. for a liquid dosage form, whether thecomposition is to be formulated into a solution, suspension, gel, etc,or for a solid dosage form, whether the composition is to be formulatedinto a tablet, capsule, caplet or other solid form, and whether thedosage form is to be an immediate- or controlled-release product.

Experimental Details

The powder X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained by methods known inthe art using a Philips X-ray powder diffractometer, Goniometer model1050/70 at a scanning speed of 2° per minute, with a Cu radiation ofλ=1.5418 Å

EXAMPLES

The present invention will now be further explained in the followingexamples. However, the present invention should not be construed aslimited thereby. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how tovary the exemplified preparations to obtain the desired results.

Example 1 Preparation of Sertraline Base

Sertraline mandelate was prepared according to procedures in U.S. Pat.No. 5,248,699. Sertraline mandelate (5 g) was stirred at roomtemperature with 50 mL ethyl acetate. Aqueous sodium hydroxide was addeddropwise until the sertraline mandelate was completely neutralized. Thephases were separated and the organic phase was dried over MgSO₄ andfiltered. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure resultingsertraline base as an oil (3.2 g).

Example 2 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Ethanolate Form VI byReslurry of Form I

Sertraline hydrochloride Form I (1 g) and absolute ethanol (20 mL) werestirred at room temperature for 24 hours. Filtration of the mixtureyielded sertraline hydrochloride ethanolate Form VI.

Example 3 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Ethanolate Form VI byReslurry of Form V

Sertraline hydrochloride Form V (1 g) and ethanol absolute (20 mL) werestirred at room temperature for 24 hrs. Filtration of the mixtureyielded sertraline hydrochloride ethanolate Form VI.

Example 4 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form II

Sertraline base (3 g) was dissolved in acetone (10 mL). Isopropanolcontaining hydrogen chloride (20 mL) was added to the solution until thepH is ˜2. The stirring was continued overnight at room temperature. Theresulting solid was filtered, washed with acetone and dried to yieldsertraline hydrochloride Form II (2.61 g, yield 77.6%).

Example 5 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form II in n-Butanol

HCl (g) was bubbled through a solution of sertraline base (33 g) inn-butanol (264 mL). The temperature rose to about 45° C. A gel-likesolid was formed. The addition of HCl (g) was continued until pH 0.5 wasreached. Then the stirring was continued at room temperature for 2.5 h.During the stirring the solid became a fine crystalline solid. The solidwas filtered, washed with n-butanol (2×10 mL) and dried at 80° C. for 24h. The product is sertraline hydrochloride Form II. The x-ray powderdiffraction spectrum obtained is FIG. 3.

Example 6 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form II

Sertraline hydrochloride Form V (10 g) was suspended indimethylformamide (DMF) (30 mL). Heating was started and at about 70° C.a clear solution is obtained. The solution was cooled to roomtemperature and the solid was filtered. After drying at 80° C. for 24hrs., sertraline hydrochloride Form II was obtained (6.6 g, yield 66%).

Example 7 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form II by Granulationof Form V

Sertraline hydrochloride Form V (2 g) and absolute ethanol (0.5 mL) werestirred in a rotavapor at room temperature for 2 days. At the end of twodays, the material contained sertraline hydrochloride Form II.

Example 8 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form II from Form VI

A slurry of sertraline hydrochloride Form VI (50 g) and t-butyl-methylether (150 mL) were heated to reflux and the reflux was continued for 1hour. The slurry was then allowed to cool to room temperature andfiltered. The solid was washed with t-butyl-methyl ether (50 mL) anddried in a reactor under vacuum of 30 mm Hg with stirring. The driedsolid so obtained is sertraline hydrochloride Form II (38.26 g: yield86.7%).

Example 9 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form II from Form VI

Sertraline hydrochloride Form VI (25 g) was stirred with acetone (250mL) at room temperature for 2 hours. The solid material was filtered andwashed twice with acetone (25 mL). The wet solid was dried in a vacuumagitated drier to afford sertraline hydrochloride Form II (20.09 g:yield 98.6%).

Example 10 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form II andSertraline Hydrochloride Form V by Drying Form VI

Sertraline hydrochloride ethanolate Form VI was dried at 105° C. undervacuum (<10 mm Hg) over 24 hours. The resulting dried material wassertraline hydrochloride Form II mixed with sertraline hydrochlorideForm V.

Example 11 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form II fromSertraline Mandelate in n-Butanol

Sertraline mandelate (20 g) and n-butanol were stirred at roomtemperature. The mixture was acidified with hydrogen chloride until pH 0was reached. During the acidification the temperature of the reactionmixture rose to ˜50° C. After the natural cooling to room temperature,the mixture was stirred at room temperature for two hours. The solid wasfiltrated, washed with n-butanol and dried at 80° C. to affordsertraline hydrochloride Form II (9.02 g).

Example 12 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form II fromSertraline Hydrochloride Form VIII

Sertraline hydrochloride Form VIII (13 g) was heated in acetone (130 mL)at reflux for 1 hour. The slurry was than cooled to room temperature andthe solid was filtrated and washed with acetone (2×10 mL). After dryingsertraline hydrochloride Form II was obtained (7.9 g).

Example 13

An aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, 10%, was added drop-wise to aslurry of sertraline mandelate crystals (10 g) in ethyl acetate (650mL), until complete dissolution was obtained (25 mL). After separationof the phases, the organic phase was washed with water (300 mL) and thendried with MgSO₄. The organic solution was diluted with ether (690 mL)and gaseous hydrochloric acid was bubbled through the solution until pH1.3 was reached. The addition of hydrogen chloride resulted in atemperature increase to about 30° C. The resulting slurry of sertralinewas stirred at room temperature overnight. The solid was then isolatedby filtration, washed twice with ether (2×20 mL) and air dried. Thedried solid, sertraline hydrochloride, was not sertraline hydrochlorideForm II, as shown in FIG. 1.

Example 14

An aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, 10%, was added drop-wise to aslurry of sertraline mandelate crystals (15 g) in ethyl acetate (810mL), until complete dissolution was obtained (35 mL). The organic andaqueous phases were separated and, the organic phase was dried overMgSO₄. The organic solution was then diluted with ether (820 mL) andgaseous hydrogen chloride (2.36 g, 2 eq.) was bubbled through thesolution until pH 1.5 was reached. The temperature was about 25° C. Theslurry was stirred at room temperature overnight. The solid wasfiltrated, washed with ether (2×15 mL) and air-dried. The dried solid,sertraline hydrochloride, was not sertraline hydrochloride Form II.

Example 15

An aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, 10%, was added drop-wise to aslurry of sertraline mandelate crystals (15 g) in ethyl acetate (810mL), until complete dissolution was obtained. The organic and aqueousphases were separated and the organic phase was dried over MgSO₄ anddiluted with an equal volume of ether (820 mL). Gaseous hydrochloricacid (4.82 g) was bubbled through the solution until pH 1 was reached.The slurry was stirred at room temperature overnight. The solid wasfiltrated, washed with ether (2×15 mL) and air-dried. The dried solid,sertraline hydrochloride, was not sertraline hydrochloride Form II.

Example 16

An aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, 10%, was added drop-wise to aslurry of sertraline mandelate crystals (15 g) in ethyl acetate (810mL), until complete dissolution is obtained. The phases were separatedand the organic phase was dried over MgSO₄ and diluted with an equalvolume of ether (820 mL). Gaseous hydrogen chloride was slowly bubbledthrough the solution (over about 3 hours) until pH 1.5 was reached. Theslurry was stirred at room temperature over night. The dried solid,sertraline hydrochloride, was not sertraline hydrochloride Form II.

Example 17 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form VIII

Sertraline base (2.7 g) was suspended in 27 mL of water. This mixturewas heated to 80° C. and treated with hydrochloric acid until about pH 1was reached. A clear solution was obtained which on cooling gave aprecipitate. After 2 hours stirring at room temperature the solid wasisolated by filtration. This solid was characterized by powder x-raydiffraction and found to be sertraline hydrochloride Form VIII.

Example 18 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form VIII

Sertraline hydrochloride ethanolate (Form VI) (40 g) was stirred withwater (80 mL) for 1 hour at room temperature. The slurry was filtratedand washed with water to yield sertraline hydrochloride hydrate FormVIII.

Example 19 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form VII

Sertraline hydrochloride Form V (1.003 g) was stirred for 24 hours atroom temperature in 20 mL water (HPLC grade). At the end of the stirringthe mixture looked like a jelly suspension. The suspension was filtratedand the compound obtained was kept at cold conditions (4° C.) untilanalyzed by x-ray diffraction.

Example 20 Preparation of Sertraline Hydrochloride Form VII from Form VI

A solution of sertraline hydrochloride ethanolate (Form VI) (40 g) inwater (400 mL) was heated at 80° C. and complete dissolution ofsertraline hydrochloride ethanolate (Form VI) was obtained. The pH wasadjusted to about 1 and the solution was allowed to cool to roomtemperature and then stirred for 2 additional hours. The solid wasisolated by filtration and washed with water to yield sertralinehydrochloride Form VII.

Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention havebeen described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artto which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of thedescribed embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the inventionbe limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and theapplicable rules of law.

1. A process for preparing sertraline hydrochloride Form II comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving sertraline base or sertraline mandelate in acetone to form a solution (b) adding aqueous hydrochloric acid in isopropanol to the solution to precipitate sertraline hydrochloride Form II; and (c) isolating sertraline hydrochloride Form II.
 2. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of stirring before isolating.
 3. A process for preparing sertraline hydrochloride Form II comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving sertraline base or sertraline mandelate in n-butanol to form a solution; (b) contacting the solution with gaseous hydrogen chloride or aqueous hydrochloric acid to precipitate sertraline hydrochloride Form II; and (c) isolating sertraline hydrochloride Form II.
 4. The process of claim 3, wherein gaseous hydrogen chloride is bubbled through the solution.
 5. A process for preparing sertraline hydrochloride Form II comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving sertraline base or sertraline mandelate in n-butanol to form a solution; (b) bubbling gaseous hydrogen chloride through the solution to precipitate sertraline hydrochloride Form II; and (c) filtering sertraline hydrochloride Form II.
 6. The process of any of the preceding claims, wherein the HCl addition results in a temperature of about 45° C. 